Chaumet Jewelry Boxes
Decades before luxury French jewelry maisons such as Van Cleef Arpels and Cartier were born, Marie-Étienne Nitot (1750–1809) founded the house that became the internationally esteemed Chaumet, which, for centuries, has created timeless necklaces, watches, rings, tiaras and other jewelry and accessories for royalty as well as Hollywood luminaries.
Before opening his own jewelry house, Nitot worked as an apprentice to Ange-Joseph Aubert, court jeweler to Marie Antoinette, and collaborated on pieces for the Queen. In 1780, he left Aubert’s side to open his own maison.
Surviving the upheaval of the French Revolution, Nitot soon found lavish commissions with the new people in power. The Emperor Napoléon Bonaparte longed for France to once again be the epicenter of luxury, making himself the fashionable face of the prospering country. Nitot’s commissions for Napoléon began with the papal tiara for Pope Pius VII that included a 414-carat emerald among its thousands of precious stones and the 1804 coronation sword, a decadent piece that featured the 140-carat Regent diamond.
The young jewelry house soon became the official jeweler of the Imperial Court, the personal jeweler of Empress Joséphine and one of the most sought-after jewelers in Europe. Chaumet’s work in this era helped popularize the tiara as a status symbol, with ornate pieces designed for Joséphine and Empress Marie-Louise, Napoléon’s second wife.
After Nitot died in 1809, his son, François-Regnault, took over in 1812 and moved the maison into the Place Vendôme, making it the first business to occupy the Parisian center of luxury. By then, Chaumet had included timepieces in its offerings, such as bracelet watches adorned with precious gemstones and equipped with movements made by Breguet (which opened a shop on Place Vendôme in 1933).
After the fall of the Napoléon Empire, successors Jean-Baptiste and Jules Fossin focused more on romantic styles of jewelry that referenced the past and nature, an approach carried on by Valentin and Prosper Morel. It was Joseph Chaumet, director from 1885 to 1928, who gave the maison its illustrious name and brought it into the 20th century with jewelry, accessories and tiaras inspired by the extravagant decor of the Belle Époque.
Later, with Joseph’s son, Marcel Chaumet, succeeding him, the house would be featured at the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes in Paris — from which the term Art Deco derives — and, alongside the likes of Cartier, would be seen as a leader in introducing the flamboyantly geometric designs and high-contrast color pairings of Art Deco jewelry to the global stage.
Chaumet has adapted over the years to meet changing tastes and trends. The house still reigns in the world of luxury jewelry, celebrating its 240th anniversary in 2020. Since 1999, it has been part of the LVMH Group. Its salons and high jewelry workshop continue to operate in the Place Vendôme where gem-setters, polishers and jewelers craft rings, earrings, watches and enduringly popular tiaras.
Find an exquisite range of authentic vintage Chaumet jewelry on 1stDibs.
1990s French Chaumet Jewelry Boxes
Leather, Velvet
Late 20th Century Swiss Victorian Chaumet Jewelry Boxes
Leather
1920s Moroccan Islamic Vintage Chaumet Jewelry Boxes
Wood
Early 19th Century English William IV Antique Chaumet Jewelry Boxes
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Chaumet Jewelry Boxes
Laminate, Wood
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Chaumet Jewelry Boxes
Brass
1970s Unknown Hollywood Regency Vintage Chaumet Jewelry Boxes
Bone
2010s Italian Chaumet Jewelry Boxes
Shagreen, Walnut
Late 20th Century Post-Modern Chaumet Jewelry Boxes
Marble
20th Century Indian Chaumet Jewelry Boxes
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Chaumet Jewelry Boxes
Shagreen, Velvet, Walnut
19th Century Victorian Antique Chaumet Jewelry Boxes
20th Century Asian Chaumet Jewelry Boxes
Brass
Chaumet jewelry boxes for sale on 1stDibs.
Creators Similar to Chaumet
- What is Chaumet famous for?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Founded in 1780 by Marie-Étienne Nitot, the House of Chaumet is a high-end jewelry and watch retailer based in Paris. Nitot trained under the court jeweler to Queen Marie-Antoinette, and would go on to create a coronation sword for Napoleon, complete with a 141-carat Regent Diamond. Shop a collection of authentic Chaumet jewelry from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
- Is Chaumet a luxury brand?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2024Yes, Chaumet is a luxury brand. In fact, it is one of the oldest luxury jewelry makers, with Marie-Étienne Nitot having founded Chaumet decades before other luxury French jewelry maisons, such as Van Cleef Arpels and Cartier, were born. Chaumet has adapted over the years to meet changing tastes and trends, and the house still reigns in the world of luxury jewelry, celebrating its 240th anniversary in 2020. Its salons and high jewelry workshop continue to operate in the Place Vendôme, where gem-setters, polishers and jewelers craft rings, earrings, watches and enduringly popular tiaras out of premium materials. Shop an assortment of Chaumet jewelry on 1stDibs.
- Is Chaumet real gold?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertOctober 7, 2024Yes, Chaumet uses real gold. Specifically, the French luxury jewelry maker produces pieces out of 18-karat white, yellow and rose gold. Chaumet has adapted over the years to meet changing tastes and trends and still reigns in the world of luxury jewelry, celebrating its 240th anniversary in 2020. Its salons and high jewelry workshops continue to operate in the Place Vendôme in Paris, where gem-setters, polishers and jewelers craft rings, earrings, watches and enduringly popular tiaras. Find a large collection of Chaumet jewelry on 1stDibs.